Seat belt buckle assembly

ABSTRACT

A seat belt assembly including a support means with a pair of latch members rotatably supported by the support means for movement between latched and unlatched positions. Each latch member includes a pair of interconnected parallel and spaced plates with pins extending between the plates. The pins have a circular portion and a planar portion as viewed in cross section and are disposed in holes in the latch plate, the holes in the latch plate having circular portions contiguous with but longer than the circular portions of the pin for allowing the pins to rotate a limited amount relative to the latch plates. A tongue plate having slots extending laterally thereinto to define planar surfaces is insertable into the assembly to engage the pin for moving the latch plates to the latched position where the planar surfaces of the pins engage the planar surfaces of the tongue plate. Because of the limited rotatability of the pins, the planar surfaces thereof remain in sliding contact with the planar surfaces of the tongue plate. There is also included a manually operatable locking means including a pair of cylindrical roller elements engageable with the latch plates for retaining the latch plates in the latched position.

United States Patent Stoiiel Mar. M, W72

[54] SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak [72] Inventor: Robert W. Stoitel, Ferndale, Mich. AtwmeyMarvm Bressler and Jonathan Mam [73] Assignee: .lim Robbins Seat Belt Company, Mt. [57] ABSTRACT Clemens Mich A seat belt assembly including a support means with a pair of [22] Filed: Oct. 20, 1969 latch members rotatably supported by the support means for movement between latched and unlatched ositions. Each [21] Appl' 867584 latch member includes a pair of interconnectzd parallel and spaced plates with pins extending between the plates. The pins 52 us. (:1. ..24/230 M have a circular Portion and a Planar portion as viewed in cross [51] 1111. C1. ..A44b 11/26 section and are disposed in holes in the latch Plate, the holes in 58 Field of Search ..24/230 AT, 230.1 the latch plate having Circular Portions contiguous with but longer than the circular portions of the pin for allowing the [56] References Cit d pins to rotate a limited amount relative to the latch plates A tongue plate having slots extending laterally thereinto to UNITED STATES PATENTS define planar surfaces is insertable into the assembly to engage 1 397 237 11/1921 Schenk 24/2301. the pin for moving the latch plates to the latched position 2 954 594 10/1960 Finken 324/230 A x where the planar Surfaces of the pins engage the 3 145 442 8/1964 Brown...::. ..24/230 A the Plate' Because F F fi 3I36OS4 6/1965 selnesm 24/230 A the pins, the planar surfaces thereof remain in sliding contact 69 7/1966 j'antzen 4/230 AT with the planar surfaces of the tongue plate. There is also in eluded a manually operatable locking means including a pair FQREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS of cylindrical roller elements engageable with the latch plates for retaining the latch plates in the latched position. 1,162,639 9/1958 France ..24/23O AT 13 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PTENTEDMAR 1 m2 3, 648 333 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR.

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PMEMEUMAR m 1912 8, M8333 sum 2 OF 2 ll. 8- L4 l T TOREYS SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY This invention relates to seat belt assemblies and more specifically to a buckle assembly for connecting two seat belts; as for example, the two seat belts utilized in making up a lap belt of the well-known type utilized in automobiles. Such buckle assemblies include a buckle attached to one seat belt and a connector means or tongue plate connected to the other seat belt and insertable into the buckle.

In assemblies of the type to which the instant invention pertains, the tongue plate is normally insertable into the buckle where it engages a latch means so as to be prevented from being removed from the buckle. The tongue plate frequently has a planar cam surface which is engaged by the latching element to retain the tongue plate within the buckle. The latching element engages the planar surface of the tongue plate in a linear or point contact when in the latched position and/or during the unlatching and removal of the tongue plate from the buckle. Such linear or point contact severely wears gouges or burrs the tongue plate which makes the assembly difficult to operate and/or subject to malfunction.

Accordingly, it is an object and feature of this invention to provide a buckle assembly with latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions for retaining a connector means or tongue plate and including a rotatable member having a planar surface for engaging a planar surface on the tongue plate when in the latched position and during at least a portion of the removal of the tongue plate.

In correlation with the foregoing objects and features, it is another object and feature of this invention to provide such an assembly including a pair of pins having a cross section including a circular portion connected by a planar portion and disposed in holes which have a circular portion contiguous with but longer than the circular portion of the pins whereby the pins are disposed in the holes for limited rotary movement to maintain the planar surfaces thereof in engagement with the planar surfaces of the tongue plate.

In correlation with the foregoing objects and features, it is another object and feature of this invention to provide a buckle assembly for receiving and retaining a connector means or tongue plate with means mechanically interlocking the connector means and the latch means thereof for moving the latch means toward an unlatched position when the connector means and the latch means are urged apart with a force below a predetennined force and for maintaining the latch means in the latched position when the connector means and the latch means are urged apart with a force which is equal to or above the predetermined force even though the latch means is otherwise free to move to the unlatched position.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment and showing the latch means in the latched position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the locking means for locking the latch members in the latched position in the unlocked position.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a buckle assembly constructed in accordance with the instant invention is generally shown at 10.

The assembly includes latch means generally indicated at 12 and movable between latched and unlatched positions for retaining a connector means or tongue plate 14 when in the latched position illustrated in FIG. 2 and for allowing reception and removal of the tongue plate 14 when in the unlatched position shown in FIG. 4.

The tongue plate 14 is symmetrical. and has a pair of inwardly inclined planar surfaces 16 which extend inwardly from opposite sides thereof. The planar surfaces In are defined by slots which extend into opposite sides of the tongue plate 14, the slots also defining the inclined cam edges M which extend beneath or rearwardly of the planar surfaces to. The planar surfaces to are disposed inwardly from the outward extremities of the cam edges 1h. The tongue plate 14 has an aperture therein through which the seat belt 119 is disposed and retained in.

The assembly 10 also includes a support means defined by the housing generally indicated at 20. The housing 20 is an integral member having a base 22, upstanding side walls 24, top wall means defined by inwardly extending flanges 26, and end wall means defined by the oppositely extending bent over flanges 28. Bent over flanges 2b are disposed at a first end of the housing and define an opening through which the tongue plate 14 is inserted. The base 22 extends forwardly and has an opening therethrough by which the seat belt 30 is attached.

The latch means 12 includes a pair of latch members 32 comprising a pair of spaced parallel interconnected plates. The plates are integrally interconnected and are actually formed from a single platelike member as is best illustrated in FIG. 1. Each latch member 32 is rotatably supported by the housing for movement between the latched and unlatched positions. The plates defining the latch members 32 have holes 34 therein with the hole 34 in the bottom plate having an upset portion from the base 22 of the housing disposed therein. A cover 38 is disposed over the housing and includes a pair of posts 40 which are integral therewith and extend downwardly therefrom through holes 42 in the top wall means or flanges 26 and into the apertures 34 of the top plates of the latch members 32. Thus, the latch members 32 are rotatably supported within the housing.

The latch means 12 also includes the rotatably supported members or pins 44 having planar surfaces 46 for engaging the planar surfaces 16 on the tongue plate 114. Each pin 44 has a cross section with a circular portion extending between the edges or extremities of the planar surfaces 46. The plates defining the latch members 32 have holes 48 therein in which the pins 44 are rotatably disposed. Each hole 48 includes a circular portion which matingly engages or is contiguous with the circular portion of the pin 44 disposed therein. Also each hole 48 includes a straight portion 50 extending between the ends of the circular portions thereof. The straight portions 50 are of a shorter length than the distance between the edges of the planar portions 46 of the pins 44 so that the rotation of the pins in the holes 43 is limited. In other words, the length of the circular portions of the holes 48 is longer than the length of the circular portions of the pins 44 disposed therein. Thus, the pins 44 are prevented from moving laterally in the holes 43 but may rotate therein a limited degree.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the planar surfaces 16 of the tongue plate l4 engage the planar surfaces 46 on the pins 44 when in the latched position. As best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tongue plate 14 is inserted into the first end of the housing 20 and is guided between the plates of each of the latch members 32.

The planar surfaces 46 on the pins 44 and the planar surfaces to on the tongue plate 14 are disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the housing and extend away from and outwardly from the central portion of the housing 20 adjacent the first end thereof into which the tongue plate 14 is inserted.

The latch members 32 are identical to one another and are disposed oppositely to one another. The latch members 32 include gear teeth means generally shown at 52 operatively interconnecting the latch members 32 so that the latch members 32 rotate in unison. A spring 54 is disposed over the flanges 26 of the top wall means with the ends 56 thereof extending downwardly through slots 53 and the flanges 26 to engage the latch members 32 for urging the latch members 32 toward the unlatched position. The spring 54 is coiled or looped about the posts 40.

As alluded to above, the first end of the latch members 32 are rotatably supported by the housing 20. The second ends of the latch members 32 include cam surfaces 60 and adjacent hook portions 62 which recede from the cam surfaces 60.

The assembly also includes locking means movable between locked and unlocked positions for retaining the latch members 32 in the latched position shown in FIG. 2 when in the locked position and for allowing the latch means to move to the unlatched position when in the unlocked position illustrated in FIG. 4. It is to be understood that various locking means may be utilized for retaining the latch members in the latched position, the specific locking means illustrated and described herein being described and claimed in more detail in copending application Ser. No. 867,574 filed Oct. 20, 1969 in the name of Robert W. Stoffel and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention. The disclosed locking means engages the second ends of the latch members 32 and includes a positioning plate 70 having a pair of elongated slots 71 with cylindrical roller elements 72 therein for engaging the cam surfaces 60 and the hook portions 62 of the latch members 32. A biasing means comprising a leaf spring 73 reacts between the forward wall of the housing as defined by the cover 38 and the positioning plate 70 for urging the positioning plate 70 toward the receiving or first end of the housing to bias the roller elements 72 against the cam surfaces 60 and into the hook portions 62. a

The cam surfaces 60 are oppositely disposed and are disposed outwardly of the roller elements 72 when the latch members 32 are in the unlatched position. Thus, as the tongue plate 14 is inserted into the housing, the cam edges 18 engagev the pins 44 to move the latch members 32 together toward the latched position illustrated in FIG. 2 during which period the roller elements 72 move along the cam surfaces 60 and toward the left as viewed in FIG. 2 until they reach the extremity of the cam surfaces 60 and fall into the hooked portions 62.

The positioning plate 70 is disposed between the plates of each of the latch members 32 and is moved to and fro as will now be described. The cover 38 has an opening 75 therein. A push button 76 is disposed in the opening 75. Concave saddle members 77 are supported in openings in the flanges 26 and extend upwardly from the flanges 26. A link means generally indicated at 78 in NO. 1 is supported by the saddle members 77 for operatively interconnecting the button 76 and the positioning plate 70 for moving the positioning plate70 away from the first or receiving end of the housing 20 upon depression of the button 76. The link means 78 includes a convex portion normally supported in the saddle member 77 and a first arm 79 extending downwardly through an opening in the flanges 26 to operatively engage the positioning plate 70 and a second arm 80 extending over the flanges 26 of the top wall means to engage the push button 76. The push button 76 includes a rearward extension 81 pivotally supported by the flanges 26 and a forward extension 82 engaging the second arm 80 of the link means 78. A spring 84 reacts between the push button 76 and the flanges 26 for urging the push button 76 into engagement with the cover 38.

In operation, the tongue plate 14 is inserted into the first or receiving end of the housing 20 so that the cam edges 18 engage the pins 44 to rotate the latch members 32 toward the latched position illustrated in FIG. 2. As described above, the roller elements 72 fall into the hook portions 62 to retain the latch members 32 in the latched position illustrated in FIG. 2. In such position, the planar surfaces 46 of the pins 44 engage the planar surfaces 16 of the tongue plate 14. Because the pins 14 are allowed to rotate a limited amount, the planar surfaces 46 thereof remain in total contact with the planar surfaces 16. Such surface contact, as explained above, eliminates securing or burring of the planar surfaces 16 of the tongue place 14. To unlatch the assembly, the push button 76 is depressed to move the positioning plate 70 to the positionillustrated in FIG. 4 thereby moving the roller elements 72 out of engagement with the latch members 32. The planar surfaces 46 of the pins 44 and the planar surfaces 16 of the tongue plate 14 are disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the housing so that as the tongue plate 14 is urged to move from the housing the pins 44 are urged apart so as to urge the latch members 32 apart and towards the unlatched position. During this movement, however, the pins 44 may rotate in the holes 48 thereby allowing the planar surfaces 46 thereof to remain in sliding contact with the planar surfaces 16 of the tongue plate 14 which in turn prevents burring, scouring or other damage to the planar surfaces 16 of the tongue plate 14.

Furthermore, in the assembly illustrated a force up to a predetermined force may be applied to urge the tongue plate 14 out of the housing 20 when the roller elements 72 are out of engagement with the latch members and the coaction between the planar surfaces 16 of the tongue plate 14 and the planar surfaces 46 of the pins 44 will urge the latch members 32 toward the unlatched position. However, even though the roller elements 72 are out of engagement with the latch members 32, a force applied to urge the tongue plate 14 out of the housing 20 which is above the predetermined force will not move the latch members apart. This is due to the fact that the frictional load between the planar surfaces 16 of the tongue plate 14 and the planar surfaces 46 of the pins 44 is sufficient to maintain the latch members in the latched position.

In one assembly constructed in accordance with the instant invention, forces were applied up to 400 pounds which would move the latch members to the unlatched position when the roller elements 72 were out of engagement therewith but applied forces above 400 pounds resulted in the latch members 32 remaining in the latched position even though the roller elements 72 were removed from engagement with the latch members 32. Thus, the planar surfaces 16 and 46 which mechanically interlock the tongue plate 14 and the latch members 32 move the latch members 32 toward the unlatched position when the tongue platesand the latch members are urged apart with a force below a predetermined force but maintain the latch members 32 in the latched position when the tongue plate 14 and the latch members 32 are urged apart with a force equal to and above the predetermined force even though the locking means has been disengaged from the latch members 32.

The pins 44 and their associated mounting may also be used in a buckle assembly of the type disclosed and claimed in copending application Ser. No. 826,965, filed May 22, I969,'

in the name of Robert W. Stoffel and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A buckle assembly comprising; latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions for retaining connector means when in said latched position and for allowing reception and removal of the connector means when in said unlatched position, said latch means including at least one pin partially rotatably supported thereon having a planar surface for engaging a planar surface on said connector means, said pin having a cross section with a circular portion extending between the edges of said planar surface; and locking means movable between locked and unlocked positions for retaining said latch means in said latched position when in said locked position and for allowing said latch means to move to said unlatched position when in said unlocked position.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said latch means includes a hole in which said pin is rotatably disposed.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said hole includes a circular portion matingly engaging said circular portion of said pin, the length of said circular portion of said hole being longer than the length of said circular portion of said pm.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said hole includes a straight portion extending between the ends of said circular portion thereof, said straight portion being of a shorter length than the distance between said edges of said planar surface so that the rotation of said pin in said hole is limited.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 including support means and wherein said latch means includes a pair of latch members movably supported by said support means, each of said latch members including one of said holes, a pair of said pins with each of said pins disposed in one of said holes whereby said pins may engage opposite sides of the connector means.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein each latch member comprises a pair of spaced parallel interconnected plates with each plate having one of said holes therein, one of said pins being disposed in the holes of one pair of plates and the other pin being disposed in the holes of the other pair of plates.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein each pair of said plates are rotatably connected adjacent the first ends thereof to said support structure for movement between said latched and unlatched positions, said locking means being engageable with the second ends of said plates.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 including the connector means, said connector means comprising a tongue plate which is symmetrical and has a pair of inwardly inclined planar surfaces extending inwardly from the opposite sides thereof for engaging said planar surfaces on said pins when in said latched position.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said support means includes a housing with a base, upstanding side walls, top wall means and end wall means at a first end thereof having an opening through which said connector means is inserted and guided between said plates of each of said latch members.

lit). An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said planar surfaces on said pins and on said tongue plate are disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of said housing and extend away from and outwardly from the central portion of said housing adjacent the first end thereof.

lll. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said latch members are identical and are disposed oppositely to one another, gear teeth means operatively interconnecting said latch members so that said latch members rotate in unison, a spring disposed over said top wall means with the ends thereof extending downwardly through slots in said top wall means to engage said latch members for urging the latter toward said unlatched position, a cover disposed over said top wall means and including posts extending downwardly therefrom and through said top wall means and into apertures in one plate of each pair of latch plates.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second ends of said latch plates include cam surfaces and adjacent hook portions which recede from said cam surfaces; and

wherein said locking means includes a positioning plate having a pair of elongated slots therein, a roller element movably disposed in each of said slots for engaging said cam surface and said hook portion of one of said latch members, biasing means reacting between said positioning plate and said housing for urging said positioning plate toward said first end of said housing to bias said roller elements against said cam surfaces and into said hook portions, said cam surfaces being oppositely disposed and disposed outwardly of said roller elements when said latch members are in said unlatched position, said positioning plate being disposed between the plates of each latch member, said cover having an opening therein, a push button disposed in said opening, concave saddle means extending upwardly from said top wall means, link means supported by said saddle means for operatively interconnecting said button and said positioning plate for moving said positioning plate away from said first end of said housing upon depression of said button, said link means inclluding a convex portion movably supported in said saddle means and a first arm extending downwardly through an opening in said top wall means to operatively engage said positioning plate and a second arm extending over said top wall means to engage said push button, said push button including a rearward extension ivotally suppprtedby said top wall means and a forward exension engaging said second arm of said link means, a spring biasing means reacting between said push button and said top wall means for urging said push button into engagement with said cover.

13. A seat belt assembly comprising; support means, a pair of latch members rotatably supported by said support means for movement between latched and unlatched positions, pins having a circular portion and a planar portion as viewed in cross section disposed in holes in said latch members, said holes having circular portions contiguous with and longer than said circular portions of said pins for supporting said pins for limited rotary movement relative to said latch members, a tongue plate having cam edges for engaging said pins to move said latch members from said unlatched position to said latched position in response to movement of said tongue plate in a first direction, said tongue plate including planar surfaces engageable with said planar surfaces of said pins when said latch members are in said latched position to limit movement of said ton gue plate in a second direction opposite to said first direction, and locking means engageable with said latch members to prevent movement of said latch members from said latched position and operable to allow such movement to the unlatched position whereby said tongue plate may be moved in said second direction. 

1. A buckle assembly comprising; latch means movable between latched and unlatched positions for retaining connector means when in said latched position and for allowing reception and removal of the connector means when in said unlatched position, said latch means including at least one pin partially rotatably supported thereon having a planar surface for engaging a planar surface on said connector means, said pin having a cross section with a circular portion extending between the edges of said planar surface; and locking means movable between locked and unlocked positions for retaining said latch means in said latched position when in said locked position and for allowing said latch means to move to said unlatched position when in said unlocked position.
 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said latch means includes a hole in which said pin is rotatably disposed.
 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said hole includes a circular portion matingly engaging said circular portion of said pin, the length of said circular portion of said hole being longer than the length of said circular portion of said pin.
 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said hole includes a straight portion extending between the ends of said circular portion thereof, said straight portion being of a shorter length than the distance between said edges of said planar surface so that the rotation of said pin in said hole is limited.
 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 including support means and wherein said latch means includes a pair of latch members movably supported by said support means, each of said latch members including one of said holes, a pair of said pins with each of said pins disposed in one of said holes whereby said pins may engage opposite sides of the connector means.
 6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein each latch member comprises a pair of spaced parallel interconnected plates with each plate having one of said holes therein, one of said pins being disposed in the holes of one pair of plates and the other pin being disposed in the holes of the other pair of plates.
 7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein each pair of said plates are rotatably connected adjacent the first ends thereof to said support structure for movement between said latched and unlatched positions, said locking means being engageable with the second ends of said plates.
 8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 including the connector means, said connector means comprising a tongue plate which is symmetrical and has a pair of inwardly inclined planar surfaces extending inwardly from the opposite sides thereof for engaging said planar surfaces on said pins when in said latched position.
 9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said support means includes a housing with a base, upstanding side walls, top wall means and end wall means at a first end thereof having an opening through which said connector means is inserted and guided between said plates of each of said latch members.
 10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said planar surfaces on said pins and on said tongue plate are disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of said housing and extend away from and outwardly from the central portion of said housing adjacent the first end thereof.
 11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said latch members are identical and are disposed oppositely to one another, gear teeth means operatively interconnecting said latch members so that said latch members rotate in unison, a spring disposed over said top wall means with the ends thereof extending downwardly through slots in said top wall means to engage said latch members for urging the latter toward said unlatched position, a cover disposed over said top wall means and including posts extending downwardly therefrom and through said top wall means and into apertures in one plate of each pair of latch plates.
 12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second ends of said latch plates include cam surfaces and adjacent hook portions which recede from said cam surfaces; and wherein said locking means includes a positioning plate having a pair of elongated slots therein, a roller element movably disposed in each of said slots for engaging said cam surface and said hook portion of one of said latch members, biasing means reacting between said positioning plate and said housing for urging said positioning plate toward said first end of said housing to bias said roller elements against said cam surfaces and into said hook portions, said cam surfaces being oppositely disposed and disposed outwardly of said roller elements when said latch members are in said unlatched position, said positioning plate being disposed between the plates of each latch member, said cover having an opening therein, a push button disposed in said opening, concave saddle means extending upwardly from said top wall means, link means supported by said saddle means for operatively interconnecting said button and said positioning plate for moving said positioning plate away from said first end of said housing upon depression of said button, said link means including a convex portion movably supported in said saddle means and a first arm extending downwardly through an opening in said top wall means to operatively engage said positioning plate and a second arm extending over said top wall means to engage said push button, said push button including a rearward extension pivotally supported by said top wall means and a forward extension engaging said second arm of said link means, a spring biasing means reacting between said push button and said top wall means for urging said push button into engagement with said cover.
 13. A seat belt assembly comprising; support means, a pair of latch members rotatably supported by said support means for movement between latched and unlatched positions, pins having a circular portion and a planar portion as viewed in cross section disposed in holes in said latch members, said holes having circular portions contiguous with and longer than said circular portions of said pins for supporting said pins for limited rotary movement relative to said latch members, a tongue plate having cam edges for engaging said pins to move said latch members from said unlatched position to said latched position in response to movement of said tongue plate in a first direction, said tongue plate including planar surfaces engageable with said planar surfaces of said pins when said latch members are in said latched position to limit movement of said tongue plate in a second direction opposite to said first direction, and locking means engageable with said latch members to prevent movement of said latch members from said latched position and operable to allow such movement to the unlatched position whereby said tongue plate may be moved in said second direction. 